Stripped(20)

He was glancing at her out of the corner of his eye with a slight smile, and Abby couldn’t help smiling back. She hadn’t kissed anyone in a long time, and Chris had stirred something in her that she didn’t remember ever feeling. It was intoxicatingly good, but it also scared her.





One of her sky-high heels slid to the side, and Abby knew she was about to land flat on her face. She unconsciously flailed her arms out to break the fall, but found only empty air. As her body tumbled over, she only hoped she wouldn’t be injured.

She was stopped in mid-air by a strong arm bracing her body. She steadied herself against it, exhaling with relief.

“Whoa,” a male voice said. “You okay?”

“Yes, thanks,” she said, regaining her footing. The man smiled as he pulled his arm away, and Abby saw that he was nice looking. Not heart-stoppingly sexy like Chris, but attractive. His short dark hair was tipped with gray and he had smile lines in the corners of his blue eyes.

“Hi, I’m Jake,” he said.

“I’m Nikki. Thanks for the save.”

“Did I just pick you up?” he asked, grinning. “Sorry, bad joke.”

Abby laughed, seeing that he was feeling shy in her presence.

“So you work here?” he asked.

“No, I wear nothing but a bra and panties everywhere I go,” she quipped.

“Nice. Remind me to find out what grocery store you shop at.”

“Sorry, but I’m due on stage in less than a minute. I have to go. Thanks again.”

“Hey, do you think … I’m sorry if this is awkward, but do you think maybe we could get a drink sometime?”

“Oh, um…” She was caught off-guard. Though she wanted to say no, he had been nice, and she hated to reject him. But given that Chris Reneau was the only man she thought about in her waking and non-waking hours anymore, she didn’t want to lead Jake on.

“It’s okay, sorry,” he said.

“No, don’t be. Leave me your number with the bartender, okay?”

“I will,” he said, brightening. “Thanks.”

“Thank you. I’d be needing an ice pack right now if it wasn’t for you.”

She flashed him a smile as she headed backstage. She knew she probably wouldn’t call him, but she felt guilty about even making him think she might. If Chris took another woman’s number, how would that make her feel? Though they weren’t in a relationship, she knew she would be hurt. But she also knew that was irrational.

As her music started and Abby worked her body against the pole, she remembered that he was in Vegas. For all she knew, he could be getting a lot more than just phone numbers from other women.



Abby smiled when she saw Chris’ name displayed on her phone.

“Hi,” she said.

“Hey, how are you?”

“I’m good. It’s Saturday -- my sleep in day. How’s Vegas?”

“The usual. Just lots of drinking and poker.”

“I thought of you last night when I left the club. I really could have gone for a foot massage.”

“I would’ve liked that, too.”

“You know, I think you’ve done something great for me,” she said suddenly.

“What’s that?”

“I think you’ve opened me up. There was this guy at the club last night, and he asked for my number. I’ve never given my number to anyone at the club. But he seemed nice, and I thought of you, and how I sort of met you at the club, and you’re completely normal. So I didn’t give him mine, but I did take his.”

There was silence at the other end of the line.

“Chris? Are you still there?”

“Yeah, I’m here.”

“What’s wrong?”

“I just don’t think that was a good idea.”

“Why not?”

“What kind of a guy picks up dancers at a strip club?”

“I just thought I’d talk to him.”

“I’ve got to go, I’ll catch you later.”

“Okay.”

Abby stared at the phone in confusion as she hung up. Was it possible Chris was jealous? That made no sense, because he didn’t want to date her. But then, they had both been full of mixed signals from the beginning. She shook her head and rolled over to sleep for a few more minutes before getting up.





Chris sighed deeply as he rapped on the dark wood office door. He’d never imagined himself making such a visit.

“Hey, Reneau,” Charlotte said with a quizzical look as she opened the door. “What’s up?”

She was just over five feet tall, with pale blond hair and a young face. But Dr. Charlotte Stern, a psychiatrist, was one of the oldest, wisest souls Chris knew. His best friend had fallen in love with her at first sight.